KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 ― The police have denied reports that claim more than 50 taxi drivers had recently damaged a car driven by an Uber driver and injured a female Iranian passenger at KL Sentral here.

New Straits Times Online quoted Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Sharul Othman Mansor as saying that there was an altercation only between one taxi driver and an Uber driver last Monday afternoon, denying also reports that a car window was broken, purportedly with rocks.

“The Uber vehicle, which was ferrying an Iranian passenger to her destination, was obstructed by two or three taxi drivers.

“This led to an argument between them,” Sharul was quoted saying.

News portal Free Malaysia Today picked up yesterday a China Press report that said more than 50 taxi drivers, who were “hiding” in the busy transportation hub in the city, had pounced on an Iranian couple as soon as they entered the car driven by an Uber driver.

The couple were reportedly pulled out of the car before rocks were allegedly used to break a car window, while the injured female tourist was reportedly taken to a hospital for treatment.

There have been previous reports of violence by cabbies against drivers employed by the popular ride-sharing service.

National newswire Bernama reported that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) submitted a proposal last Saturday on the need to legalise ride-sharing services Uber and Grab and to level the playing field for taxi drivers. – MMO.